Handle attachment for surface-treating machines



A. A. CLARKE. HANDLE ATTACHMENT FOR SURFACE TREATING MACHINES- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. I919.

Patented Saept. 14, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEX A. CLARKE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

HANDLE ATTACHMENT FOR SURFACE-TREATING MACHINES..

Application filed June 26,

T all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, ALEX A. CLARKE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dal- I a handle readily attached to or removed from a surface treating device and arranged so as to control. the machine and operate the adjustments from the upper end of the handle. Such a handle will convert a hand device into a floor surfacing machine and place said machine under direct control of the operator.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a surface treating machine equipped with a handle,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view, and

Fig. 4: is a detail of the upper end of the handle.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates an end member and 2, a shorter end member. The end member 1 has Vertical columns 3 at each side receiving one pair of posts 6 at one end of the frame. Ears 4 cast on the columns are set back from the outer sides of the same. Ears are provided on the end member 2. Side plates 7 connect the end members and are fastened to the ears 4: and 5. Lugs 7 are provided on the side plates and receive the other pair of posts 6. g

The end members have outwardly extending brackets 8. A handle 9 is fixed between the brackets of the member 2; while a handle 10 is rotatable between the brackets of the member 1. The handle 10 has a shaft 11 extending above its top bracket with a sprocket wheel 12 fixed on said shaft. An endless sprocket chain 13 passes around sprocket wheels 14 and the wheel 12 and by turning the handle 10 the chain is traversed thus adjusting the frame. The posts are screw-threaded in the wheels 14 which lat- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 306,964.

ter are confined against upward displacement. 2

, The end members have cars 15 spaced inwardly from the ears, .t and 5 and inner plates 16 extendingbe tw'een the end members are fastened to the side plates and brace the same. The side plates are cut back at their lower left-hand, corners (Fig. 1)" and are provided with collars 18 receiving the shaft 19 of a drum 20 having a surface treating sleeve 21. Thepurpose of thisarrangement is to dispose the drum at one end of the frame and to one side of the adjustable supports. It will'be seen that if the handle 9 and its brackets Savers omitted the drum would extend beyond the end of the frame. A gear 22 is fastened on the drum shaft 19 and is driven by a gear 23 mounted between the plates 7 and 16. The gear 23 meshes with a pinion 24: mounted on a motor shaft 25 of a motor 26. The motor 26 is mounted on brackets 27. The posts 6 are mounted on cross bars 28 having their ends fastened in runners 29.

The machine is slid along the surface being treated on the runners. The drum is rapidly revolved by the motor and gears. The operator having hold of both handles 9 and 10 may adjust the frame vertically at any time during the operation by simply turning the handle 10. The turning of the handle 10 propels the chain 13, whereby the sprocket wheels 14 are rotated and being attached to the frame are elevated or loweredon the posts 6. The drum being carried with the frame will have its sleeve 21 adjusted toward or from the work. Thus in running across a table top should a depression be encountered the frame is adjusted to cause the drum to gradually dip into the depression and thus merge the depression into the surrounding surface.

For surfacing floors and other surfaces where it is not convenient to use the handles 9 and 10 a handle attachment is used. Studs 30 are provided on the side plates and other studs 31 on the columns 3. A spring metal yoke 32 has apertures 30 and 31, respectively receiving the studs. The yoke is pivoted at 33 to a handle 34having a hand grip 35 which may be equipped with switches or other parts. 1

The shaft 11 has an extension above the I sprocket wheel 12 and has a beveled pinion a bracket 38 in the yoke. The upper end of the shaft is supported in bracket 10 on the handle. A thumb button ll on the upper end of shaft 39 is within convenient reach of the fingers and thumb of the 0perators hand. By turning the button the shaft is revolved and the handle 10 turned by the pinions, thus adjusting the frame.

WVhat I claim, is:

1. In a surface treating machine, a frame, adjustable supporting means for the frame, a surface treating element arranged within and Connected with the frame, handles connected with the frame near its opposite ends, means to operate the adjustable supporting means including a shaft connected with one handle to be turned thereby, studs secured to the opposite sides of the frame, a resilient yoke to straddle the frame and having its ends apertured to receive the studs, a handle connected with the yoke, a'gear connected with said shaft, a second gear carried by the yoke and engaging the first named gear, a manually operated element connected with the handle near its rear end, and a flexible element connecting the manually operated element and the second named gear.

2. In a surface treating machine, a frame, adjustable supporting means for the frame, a surface treating element arranged within and connected with the frame, handles con nected with the frame near its opposite ends, means to operate the adjustable supporting means including a shaft connected with one handle, a yoke to straddle the frame, means for detachably connecting the yoke with the frame, a gear connected with said shaft, a second gear carried by the yoke and engaging 'the first named gear, the handle pivotally connected with the yoke to be angularly adjusted with relation thereto, a flexible shaft connected with the second named gear and extending longitudinally of the handle, and an element connected with the rear end of the flexible shaft to turn it.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEX A. CLARKE. 

